Format of Championship
 

Hey guys!,

What is the structure of World Championships? My team is in their rookie year and qualified by winning the Dallas Regional. That being said, none of us really know what we are in for. Please help enlighten me on this.:)

Re: Format of Championship
 

Congratulations on qualifying for Champs!

Start here, particularly the team guide:

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...pionship-event

And the manual:

http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/3#5.6

Re: Format of Championship
 

Take your regional. Now expand it to 80-100 teams. Now put 4 of them in the same large venue. Add in FLL and FTC teams, each with an FRC-sized field area of their own, and a pit space for them.

You now have the World Championship (minus scholarship row and the supplier showcases and the presentations).

One thing to be aware of is that the rookie teams tend to be placed all in one or two areas--the pits are sorted by number from low to high. Another item: Crowds going in, crowds moving around... you get the idea.

But, in essence, 4 large regionals in one building is the best way to put it. Only these regionals are qualification-entry only... bring your A game.

Re: Format of Championship
 

In a nutshell, the Championship is like 4 massive regionals, Archimedes, Curie, Galileo, and Newton. Each one is called a division, and each division has about 100 teams. Registered teams are sorted into the 4 divisions. FIRST will publish the division list after week 7 but before the Championships. The divisions follow the exact same format as a traditional regional. X number of qualification matches followed by alliance selection and the elimination rounds.

This is where it gets fun. The winning alliance from each division all face off on a fifth field, the Einstein field. Same format as eliminations, best 2 out of 3. Archimedes plays Curie, and Galileo plays Newton. Following the same format, the winners from these 2 matches play for the World Championship, also best 2 out of 3.

Re: Format of Championship
 

In the words of Jim Beck, regional director for FIRST in California:

"A regional is a small McDonald's meal compared to the 5-course meal that IS the Championship."

Re: Format of Championship
 

As you're reading the materials, there are some places to pay attention:
* Notice that practice matches are only Thursday morning. Quals start after lunch
* You'll probably be scheduled to be playing longer each day, unless you were at a large regional.
* There will only be 2 practice fields, each shared by 2 divisions.
* The pit map isn't up yet, but be prepared to walk a lot. Although nowhere near as much as when we were in Atlanta. :rolleyes:

You should expect to have a lot of fun. Use the opportunity to look around and see what other teams do -- in their pits, with their robots, and as a team. You can get a lot of ideas for next year. Also, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity to check out the other FIRST programs.

Good luck.

Re: Format of Championship
 

Great to see you guys are making it out. Feel free to hunt us down if you have any questions about scheduling or logistics.

Re: Format of Championship
 

You forgot about JFLL. Although they are only there Friday and Saturday.

Re: Format of Championship
 

And certainly no where as much as you did in Houston which was a one mile walk up ramps.

Re: Format of Championship
 

Since Regionals/Districts are over, they'll use a couple of real fields.

I wonder if they'll set up the nets, as well.

Re: Format of Championship
 

There are more teams per division than there are per regional (even the biggest ones), so you will have a lot more downtime between qualification matches. Use it well, but don't let time get away from you. There is no audible queuing. Your team has to watch the clock and report to their matches on their own (with the robot).

Re: Format of Championship
 

On Wednesday, 5 team representatives are allowed into the pits to set up and get inspected.

Thursday morning from when the doors open to noon-ish is when you can get on your field in the dome for practice matches and finish getting inspected. After lunch, qualification rounds begin.

Last year, there were two full fields in the pits for practicing, a practice field that you would see at a regional right next to them, then two more practice fields on the alleyway to the dome from the pits.

Re: Format of Championship
 

Speaking of this, does anyone know if they will have the "shooting areas" again this year?